Zero-kilometer car, which to buy

Buy cars at zero kilometers. What exactly does that mean? Because we are all bombarded today by offers of this kind, but many are not clear what features a car must have to be considered at zero kilometers. What are the advantages and risks of buying a similar vehicle? Used yes, but how much?

Questions valid all year, but especially in November and December when the expiry of the calendar year intensifies the activity of the dealers on this front, starting from the assumption that the 'oldest' cars can be dated at most in 2018. In in other words, within a month or two you lose a year of 'youth' on the price lists that all potential buyers read online or in specialized newspapers.

We come to the more or less shared definition. "Zero-kilometer car" means a car registered by a dealer or a car manufacturer that must not have traveled more than 100 kilometers. Otherwise it must be considered a company or demonstration car. But why does a dealer register a new car without having sold it yet? Legitimate question.

Here is the answer. The dealers have sales targets imposed by the parent companies which, if reached, allow the collection of important bonuses that heavily affect the budgets. In practice the dealers register the number of missing cars at their own company: evidently when they think that the risk of not selling them "for real" is consistent with the sales premium of the parent company.

Another case in which you choose to register cars with the same seller is determined by two factors: restyling or change of model. If the stocks of the previous versions are still high, they are still registered to dispose of the stocks. A concrete example: in this period Mercedes is promoting the already renewed Class A, which has a rival engaging in the "big sister" Classe GLA. 2018 models are available at excellent prices (even below 20,000 euros).

But ultimately why is it better to buy a car with zero kilometers? The main advantage is the possibility of having a reasonable saving compared to the same new model. You can quantify between 15% and 30% of the list price. In this period, promotions are underway in which the manufacturer discounts 22 percent VAT. An advantage that should not be underestimated.

Attention: there is no fixed rule and you must deal with the dealer who behaves according to what his needs are. In fact the price (and therefore the savings) depend on the dealer. There are two reasons: his haste in selling the car and its convenience. Having one or 10 cars of the same model in the saloon and in the warehouse obviously makes a big difference.

Our advice: to properly assess the convenience it is important to get a quote for a new car with the same features and accessories as the zero kilometer proposal. Another advantage is also the immediate availability of the car: once you have chosen the car and completed the bureaucratic issues, you can drive it within a few days.

Obviously in the world of zero kilometers there are no advantages. When you go looking for a car with zero kilometers, you have to be ready to accept one or more compromises. Faced with a strong discount, the availability of models can be limited and we must be satisfied with the available specimens: take or leave. Often a non-conventional color or an exuberant range of optional items can often be traded in front of a decidedly important price.

If you are skilled and pragmatic you can make the fact that the car in question has been in the dealership for a long time, often outdoors, on the negotiating table. Therefore an additional discount is required, paying attention to any defects in the bodywork, tires or gaskets. We must evaluate the purchase without having the desire to change our mind after a short time. This also applies to the new, trying to amortize the initial depreciation.

Important warning. Pay attention to the guarantee that, in the case of a zero-kilometer car, it is limited in time compared to a new car: basic it is covered by the legal guarantee, which must be 24 months. However, many manufacturers offer guarantees of 5 or even 7 years. An advantage to consider because the warranty starts from the registration date. However, a zero-kilometer car that has been registered for several months will usually have a shorter warranty.

Final question: is buying a car at zero kilometers worth? The answer is a big yes if you like a generic car model and you don't have to worry about color, motorization, options and even secondary characteristics. The answer is no if you want a particular set-up or you are not willing to compromise on a detail that maybe is important for us (examples: dual-zone climate control, four doors, park assist, etc.). Fortunately, we are not all the same as our dealers.

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